Best Universities for Psychology in North America

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Psychology. A graph of 267M citations received by 7.76M academic papers made by 1,612 universities in North America was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Psychology

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

2. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Psychology

#1 in Canada

#3 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

3. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Psychology

#2 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Psychology

#3 in the United States

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

5. Stanford University

United States | California

For Psychology

#4 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

6. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Psychology

#5 in the United States

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

7. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Psychology

#6 in the United States

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

8. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Psychology

#7 in the United States

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

9. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Psychology

#8 in the United States

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

10. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Psychology

#9 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

11. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Psychology

#10 in the United States

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

12. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Psychology

#11 in the United States

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

13. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Psychology

#12 in the United States

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

14. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Psychology

#13 in the United States

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

15. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Psychology

#2 in Canada

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

16. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Psychology

#14 in the United States

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

17. New York University

United States | New York State

For Psychology

#15 in the United States

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

18. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Psychology

#16 in the United States

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

19. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Psychology

#17 in the United States

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

20. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Psychology

#3 in Canada

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

21. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Psychology

#18 in the United States

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

22. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Psychology

#19 in the United States

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

23. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Psychology

#20 in the United States

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

24. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Psychology

#21 in the United States

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

25. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Psychology

#22 in the United States

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

26. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Psychology

#23 in the United States

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

27. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Psychology

#24 in the United States

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

28. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Psychology

#25 in the United States

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

29. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Psychology

#26 in the United States

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

30. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Psychology

#27 in the United States

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

31. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

United States | Minnesota

For Psychology

#28 in the United States

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $11,830
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,182

32. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Psychology

#29 in the United States

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

33. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Psychology

#30 in the United States

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

34. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Psychology

#31 in the United States

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

35. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Psychology

#32 in the United States

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

36. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Psychology

#33 in the United States

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

37. Baylor College of Medicine

United States | Texas

For Psychology

#34 in the United States

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,610
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

38. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Psychology

#4 in Canada

#49 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

39. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Psychology

#35 in the United States

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

40. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Psychology

#36 in the United States

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

41. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Psychology

#37 in the United States

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

42. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Psychology

#38 in the United States

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

43. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Psychology

#39 in the United States

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

44. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Psychology

#5 in Canada

#59 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

45. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Psychology

#40 in the United States

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

46. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Psychology

#41 in the United States

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

47. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Psychology

#42 in the United States

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

48. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Psychology

#43 in the United States

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

49. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Psychology

#44 in the United States

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

50. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Psychology

#6 in Canada

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

51. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Psychology

#45 in the United States

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

52. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Psychology

#7 in Canada

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

53. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

United States | New York State

For Psychology

#46 in the United States

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,253
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1963

54. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

United States | Texas

For Psychology

#47 in the United States

#74 in the World

Enrollment: 2,354
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1943

55. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Psychology

#8 in Canada

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

56. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Psychology

#48 in the United States

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

57. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Psychology

#49 in the United States

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

58. University of Alabama at Birmingham

United States | Alabama

For Psychology

#50 in the United States

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

59. University of Maryland, Baltimore

United States | Maryland

For Psychology

#51 in the United States

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,931
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

60. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Psychology

#52 in the United States

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

61. Oregon Health & Science University

United States | Oregon

For Psychology

#53 in the United States

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,870
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

62. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Psychology

#54 in the United States

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

63. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Psychology

#55 in the United States

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

64. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

United States | Colorado

For Psychology

#56 in the United States

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

65. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Psychology

#57 in the United States

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

66. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Psychology

#9 in Canada

#93 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

67. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

United States | Indiana

For Psychology

#58 in the United States

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

68. Providence College

United States | Rhode Island

For Psychology

#59 in the United States

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

69. Wayne State University

United States | Michigan

For Psychology

#60 in the United States

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

70. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Psychology

#61 in the United States

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

71. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Psychology

#62 in the United States

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

72. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Psychology

#63 in the United States

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

73. Tufts University

United States | Massachusetts

For Psychology

#64 in the United States

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

74. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Psychology

#65 in the United States

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

75. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Psychology

#66 in the United States

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

76. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Psychology

#67 in the United States

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

77. Wake Forest University

United States | North Carolina

For Psychology

#68 in the United States

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Net Price: $26,197
Receiving Aid: 37%
Average Aid: $54,233

78. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Psychology

#69 in the United States

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

79. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Psychology

#70 in the United States

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

80. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Psychology

#71 in the United States

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

81. Medical University of South Carolina

United States | South Carolina

For Psychology

#72 in the United States

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,175
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1824

82. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Psychology

#73 in the United States

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

83. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Psychology

#74 in the United States

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

84. George Washington University

United States | District of Columbia

For Psychology

#75 in the United States

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

85. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Psychology

#76 in the United States

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

86. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Psychology

#10 in Canada

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

87. Medical College of Wisconsin

United States | Wisconsin

For Psychology

#77 in the United States

#146 in the World

Enrollment: 1,615
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1893

88. Dalhousie University

Canada | Nova Scotia

For Psychology

#11 in Canada

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Enrollment: 30,867
Founded: 1818

89. Virginia Commonwealth University

United States | Virginia

For Psychology

#78 in the United States

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

90. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Psychology

#79 in the United States

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

91. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Psychology

#80 in the United States

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

92. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

United States | Texas

For Psychology

#81 in the United States

#165 in the World

Enrollment: 5,354
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1972

93. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

United States | Texas

For Psychology

#82 in the United States

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,518
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1959

94. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Psychology

#12 in Canada

#167 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

95. University of Manitoba

Canada | Manitoba

For Psychology

#13 in Canada

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 29,800
Founded: 1877

96. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Psychology

#14 in Canada

#172 in the World

Enrollment: 35,900
Founded: 1957

97. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Psychology

#83 in the United States

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

98. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Psychology

#84 in the United States

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

99. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

United States | Texas

For Psychology

#85 in the United States

#175 in the World

Enrollment: 364
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1941

100. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Psychology

#86 in the United States

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

Psychology subfields in North America

Child Psychology977

Clinical Psychology827

Cognitive Science812

Education Majors1108

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution318

Neuroscience1151

Occupational Therapy295

Organizational / Business / IO Psychology315

Social Psychology1262

Special Education395